September 24, 2017 8:00 am Trinity Lutheran Church 2163 Mayhew Lake Rd. NE Sauk Rapids, MN 56379 Trinity is a member of the Prince of Peace Lutheran School Association and the Good Shepherd Community.
Those Serving Today Officiating Today 8:00am & 10:30am Pastor Paul Cloeter Organist 8:00am Daniel Reineke Musician 10:30am Ruth Immerfall Screen Team 8:00am Jon Fuchs 10:30am Creighton Clark Lector 8:00am Jan Sorell 10:30am Gayleen Dierks Visuals 8:00am & 10:30am Daniel Reineke Altar Guild Susie Riehm, Donna Esselman, Jo Duea Information Desk 8:00am Zone 5 Marie Mendel 10:30am Zone 1 Barb Mingo Greeters 8:00am Zone 5 Ushers 8:00am Zone 5 Diane Haffner, Marie Mendel, Amy Schaefer 10:30am Zone 1 Tom Skuza, Shirley Skuza, Lori Zipp 10:30am Zone 1 Lay Minister 8:00am Chuck Haake Bob Behrendt, Luke Wendt, Jim & Kathy Stueve, Trevor Jevne, Andy Behrendt Mark Helgeson, Dick Mingo, Norm Greenwaldt, Bob Koroll, Dan Reberg, Russ Riehm 10:30am Jon Lentz 1
The Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost Divine Service Setting 2 (LSB pg 167) September 24, 2017 8:00 a.m. AS WE GATHER Our reward for being called to work in God s kingdom does not change based on how long we have been in our Lord s service. After all, we are saved by grace through faith, not by works. Isaiah s call for the wicked and unrighteous to return to the Lord shows God s immense compassion for all people, no matter when they return to Him. God s ways are not our ways, yet we continue to work in His kingdom until He calls us when we die. Paul is struggled with a desire to depart and be with Christ and a desire to go on living and laboring for the Lord. Death and life contend, but Paul knows life will win. He knows that Jesus will return, raise the dead, and dwell with them forever. PRESERVICE MUSIC WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS OPENING HYMN: Hark the Voice of Jesus Calling (see video screens) INVOCATION The sign of the cross may be made by all in remembrance of their Baptism. P: In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. C: Amen. CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION P: As we come to the house of the Lord, we know that we are unworthy of God s love. We have sinned against friends and families, neighbors and co-workers. C: We have not loved God with our whole heart. We have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We have grumbled against God and His authorities. We have sought selfish desires instead of God s will. P: We turn to God in repentance and implore Him for mercy. Silence for reflection P: Lord, hide not Your face from us. Turn not Your servants away in anger. C: Do not forsake us, O God of our salvation! P: The prophet Isaiah writes, Seek the Lord while He may be found; call upon 2
Him while He is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that He may have compassion on him, and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon. The Lord is near to you. He has drawn near in the person of Jesus Christ, whose death and resurrection bring forgiveness, life, and salvation. As a called and ordained servant of Christ, and by His authority, I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. C: Amen. And now my head shall be lifted up. I will offer sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing and make melody to the Lord. INTROIT P: I will offer to you the sacrifice of thanksgiving C: and call on the name of the Lord. P: What shall I render to the Lord C: for all his benefits to me? P: I will lift up the cup of salvation C: and call on the name of the Lord, P: Precious in the sight of the Lord C: is the death of his saints. P: Lord, I am your servant; C: I am your servant, the son of your maidservant. You have loosed my bonds. ALL: Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen. P: I will offer to you the sacrifice of thanksgiving C: and call on the name of the Lord. KYRIE P: In peace let us pray to the Lord. 3
P: For the peace from above and for our salvation, let us pray to the Lord. P: For the peace of the whole world, for the well-being of the Church of God and for the unity of all, let us pray to the Lord. P: For this holy house and for all who offer here their worship and praise let us pray to the Lord. P: Help, save, comfort and defend us gracious Lord. GLORIA IN EXCELSIS 4
SALUTATION AND COLLECT OF THE DAY P: The Lord be with you. C: And also with you. P: Let us pray Lord God, heavenly Father, You are the Author of life. Direct us in our vocations that we may serve You in humble gratitude, seeking unity and peace with all people, which is ours by the blood of Christ; through the same Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. C: Amen. 5
MUSICAL SELECTION: Lord, Thee I Love with All My Heart (Handbells: Ruth Immerfall, Flute: Lucie Schwartzkopf) Sit OLD TESTAMENT LESSON: Isaiah 55:6-9 Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will freely pardon. "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the Lord. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. L: This is the Word of the Lord. C: Thanks be to God. EPISTLE: Philippians 1:3-5, 19-27 I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, for I know that through your prayers and the help given by the Spirit of Jesus Christ, what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance. I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, so that through my being with you again your joy in Christ Jesus will overflow on account of me. Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel. L: This is the Word of the Lord. C: Thanks be to God. 6
Stand ALLELUIA AND VERSE HOLY GOSPEL: Matthew 20:1-6 P: The Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew, the twentieth chapter. "For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire men to work in his vineyard. He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard. "About the third hour he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing. He told them, 'You also go and work in my vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.' So they went. "He went out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour and did the same thing. About the eleventh hour he went out and found still others standing around. He asked them, 'Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?' " 'Because no one has hired us,' they answered. "He said to them, 'You also go and work in my vineyard.' "When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, 'Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last ones hired and going on to the first.' "The workers who were hired about the eleventh hour came and each received a denarius. So when those came who were hired first, they expected to receive more. But each one of them also received a denarius. When they received it, they began to grumble against the 7
landowner. 'These men who were hired last worked only one hour,' they said, 'and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day.' "But he answered one of them, 'Friend, I am not being unfair to you. Didn't you agree to work for a denarius? Take your pay and go. I want to give the man who was hired last the same as I gave you. Don't I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?' "So the last will be first, and the first will be last." L: This is the Gospel of the Lord. APOSTLES CREED I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth. And in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From thence he will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen Sit CHILDREN S MESSAGE HYMN OF THE DAY: Lord, Thee I Love with All My Heart LSB 708 SERMON: Partners in the Gospel (Philippians 1:3-5, 19-27) 8
HYMN: Let It Be Said of Us Piano: Linda Kothman OFFERING (Please sign and date the Rite of Friendship pad located in the pew. The children are invited to bring their offerings to the front at this time.) 9
MUSICAL OFFERING: Sheep May Safely Graze..J.S. Bach Handbells: Ruth Immerfall, Piano: Daniel Reineke PRAYER OF THE CHURCH LORD'S PRAYER ALL: Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen. BENEDICTION P: The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you. The Lord look upon you with favor and give you peace. CLOSING HYMN: Forth in the Peace of Christ We Go Forth in the peace of Christ we go; Christ to the world with joy we bring. Christ in our minds, Christ on our lips, Christ in our hearts, the world s true king. We are the Church; Christ bids us show That in His Church all nations find Their hearth and home where Christ restores True peace, true love to all mankind. Prince of Peace Walkathon Saturday, Oct. 7th, at 9:00am. lake George. We want to show everyone what a wonderful group of Students, Teachers, Parents and Friends we have at POP! 10
Calendar for the Week The Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost TODAY 8:00am Worship Z5 9:15am Bible Classes & SS 9:15am Rite of Confirmation 10:30am Worship Z1 (HC) 12:00pm Anyuak Worship 4:00pm Creative Crafts MONDAY 9:30am Parish Workers (NL) 6:00pm Bev s CC DINE TO DONATE AT BUFFALO WILD WINGS TUESDAY 7:00pm Friends in Harmony..\..\Attendance & Offering Master Data.2015.xlsx WEDNESDAY 7:00am Men s Bible Study@GS 6:00pm Confirmation Classes 7:00pm Adult Choir Practice THURSDAY 4-6:30pm Farmer s Market 6:00pm Worship Team Rehearsal (W) 7:30pm Benton Co. Jail Bible Study FRIDAY OFFICE CLOSED 9:00am Parish Workers 6:00pm Narcotics Anon. SATURDAY 9:00am Altar Guild 6:45pm Traditional Worship Practice The Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost: LWML Sunday MN Adult & Teen Challenge 8:00am Worship Z2 (HC) 9:15am Adult Bible Classes & SS 10:30am Worship Z3 MN Adult & Teen Challenge 11:30am Potluck 12:00pm Anyuak Worship Scripture Lessons: Ezekiel 18:1-4, 25-32; Philippians 2:1-4, 14-18 Matthew 21: 23-32 1 Thessalonians 5:17-18 Pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Church Office Hours: M-F 8:30am-2:30pm Open during the noon hour. Church Office Phone 252-3670 WEEK OF TIME ATTENDANCE OFFERINGS 9/17/17 8:00am 124 General Fund Offerings $7,555.59 9/17/17 10:30am 451 Building Debt Offerings $617.00 Total 575 Total $8,172.59 Missions this Week $650.00 Weekly Need: $11,938.00 Received to-date $17,853.66 Annual Funds Promised $27,500.00 11 Challenge Fund Giving to Date: This number does not reflect the matching funds $33,744.35
Sharing the Caring Christ with All People Matthew 20:1-16: As our Lord tells the parable of the vineyard and the Master s generosity to the worker who only worked for one hour, we become uncomfortable with the conclusion of the earthly story with a heavenly message: the last shall be first. We tend to lump people into either the deserving or the undeserving pile. But God doesn t see things that way. He sees us ALL as undeserving in His Kingdom of grace. But He is generous beyond measure. We must not begrudge His generosity but rejoice in it - and reach out abundantly with it. Thanks be to God that He does not and has not and will never give us what we deserve but generously pours out His grace that is greater than our sin to give us eternal life. And we have this message to generously give to the world beyond measure. May the Holy Spirit bless us with the same generosity in our witness to one another so that our fellowship bears witness to His amazing grace time after time after time! Today is Pastor Paul s Last Sunday at Trinity After many years of faithful service to our Lord and His Church, Pastor Paul is retiring. Please help us recognize Pastor Paul s accomplishments in ministry and wish Nancy and Pastor God s blessings in this new chapter of their lives. There will be a catered dinner in the Fellowship Hall on Sunday, October 8 th, at 12:15pm. The menu is 2- piece Broasted Chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, coleslaw and a dinner roll. A program will take place in the Sanctuary at 1:30pm with a cake reception for Pastor Paul and Nancy to follow. There is still room for 100 for the dinner, so if you would like to attend the catered dinner please call the church office to make your reservation (320-252-3670). There will be a free will offering to help offset the cost of the dinner. Today s Radio Broadcast is in honor of Pastor Paul and Nancy and their ministry to our Trinity Family. You ve taught us from His word, guided and cared for us for this we thank you. We pray that the Lord will rchly bless your lives in the retirement years. We have openings in January. If you would like to sponsor a broadcast please complete a form and turn it in. Forms are available in the church office. The radio transmission enables our shut-ins, as well as others in our community to hear and participate in our worship. The service airs on WVAL 800 on the AM dial, at 8:00am, and live on the internet at www.800wval.com. This is Confirmation Sunday! Ten young people will confess their faith and be confirmed in that faith at the Rite of Confirmation, 9:15am between services today.please keep these young people in your prayers. 12
Pastor Hinz's Installation will be held on Sunday, October 22 at 2:00 p.m., followed by a reception in the fellowship hall. Pastor Hinz s father will preach, and Pastor Finnern, from Messiah will officiate. Pastor Hinz will have his first service at Trinity on October 29, Reformation Sunday, and there will be a "Meet & Greet" in the fellowship hall between services. Please plan to attend these important events and give Pastor Hinz and his family a warm Trinity welcome. The Leadership Team Sunday Morning Fellowship In September our hosts are Virgil and Sue Bragelman. Members who have last names beginning with the letter R are asked to bring treats for our fellowship time. If you can help, please sign up on the bulletin board. $50,000 Matching Challenge Opportunity A member of Trinity Lutheran Church has offered to match all gifts up to a total of $50,000 to reduce the principal on our building mortgage. Reaching the goal of $100,000 will help Trinity reduce the principal and our monthly mortgage payments. All gifts in support of this challenge would be above and beyond your regular giving. This opportunity began September 1 st, culminating on Thanksgiving Day, November 23, 2017. Prayerfully consider how the Lord may be challenging you to participate. Envelopes are available in which to place your check, write Challenge Fund in the memo of your check, then please put it in the offering plate. Housing for the Hinz Family Pastor Hinz and his family are looking for temporary housing until they find a permanent home. If Anybody has a home (knows of someone) who is looking for a renter, please contact Jeff Cziok at 253-0475. Trinity has recently received an email from LCEF stating that as of Sept 30th we will be dropping to the second tier of the Shared Blessings Program. That equals about $200 a month decrease in the rebate amount we will receive. Would you please consider becoming an investor so that we may maintain our numbers? Money is still available for the Young Investor program. For more information on investments, or to become an investor, please contact Lori Wendt at loriannwendt@gmail.com. Beginning Experience (BE) is providing a weekend program for divorced, widowed or separated adults on October 6-8, 2017 at Luther Crest, Alexandria MN. BE is a program designed to facilitate the grief resolution process for adults thereby enabling them to again love themselves, others, and God. Those who attend the weekend should be beyond the initial feelings of anger and despair. To receive an application or for more information, call 1-888-565-0178 or visit http://www.beginningexperiencemn.com. 13
VOTER'S ASSEMBLY MEETING: A Voter's Assembly Meeting will be held on Sunday, October 15, 2017 at 9:15 in the Fellowship Hall. The purpose of the meeting is to present a "DRAFT" of the 2018 proposed budget to the congregation. Are You My Secret Angel? A secret angel is anyone from our congregation who volunteers to secretly support one of Trinity s confirmation students as they work through their confirmation classes. The most important duty of a secret angel is to remember the student in their prayers. Only with the Lord s Will will the children hear His words and learn His lessons. To allow the students to know their angel is near, secret angels drop off anonymous forms of encouragement in the church office called angel mail at least ONCE a month for the student. Secret angel mail is kept simple: cards, letters, words of wisdom, favorite verses, poems or snacks/treats are just a few ideas. The student has the same secret angel throughout 7th and 8th grade. The secret identity of their angel is always a mystery and is not revealed to them until their confirmation day! Trinity s congregation is blessed to have 15 new 7th grade children enrolled in confirmation class this year! Would you prayerfully consider mentoring one of them? Please contact Kristen Fuchs for more information including the list of class names: kjfuchs14@gmail.com or call me at: 320-282-4432. Remember Shhhhhh!! Your identity is a secret until the student s confirmation day! Minnesota Teen Challenge Choir MN Adult & Teen Challenge will bless us with worship & song at the 10:30 a.m. service and a time of sharing and testimonies during Bible class on Sunday, Oct. 1st. The testimonies and heartfelt singing of our visitors is a moving experience every year. We are pleased to invite you to bring a dish to share, as indicated, according to the first letter of your last name: A-J Salad, K-Z Hot dish, dessert will be provided. We will also receive a door offering at both services that day, and checks should be made payable to: Trinity Lutheran Church, and note in the memo, MNTC. Their contagious enthusiasm, faith, trust, & humbleness are a blessing & honor to experience. Please stay to break bread with our brothers in Christ and support them in their journey by spending time with them after the service. Volunteers needed to serve coffee and refreshments on October 22nd and 29 th. David and Amy Petersen are hosts next month, and need help on these two Sundays. Please speak with them if you would like to help out. Altar Guild Meeting This fall is a new season in our lives. Why not join a New Guild in your life The Altar Guild?!! It s rewarding, fun and not very time consuming. Meet new friends and work with others you already know. Come to our fall meeting on Wednesday Oct. 11 at 6:30pm and learn more. You can enjoy yourself while caring for the church as well!! See you there! Questions: Call Sue Kulzer: 320-248-9783 14
Welcome to Trinity Lutheran Church Church Office 252-3670 E-mail & Website: office@trinitysr.org www.trinitysr.org Pastor Paul Cloeter: 333-6319 Pastor Harvey Ehlers, Emeritus: 290-4267 Director of Christian Outreach Craig Cooper: 237-5507 Pastor John Bakou: 249-1691 Administrative Assistants- Judy Rehwaldt & Katie Stangl: 252-3670 Traditional Music Director Daniel Reineke: 656-0963 Contemporary Music Director Ruth Immerfall: 291-9293 Prince of Peace Preschool: 230-3047 Playhouse ChildCare: 230-9116 Parish Nurse - Jennifer Machula: 267-1587 Prayer Chain Delores Volkers: 252-2101 WE WELCOME FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN We are glad you are here! If there is a time during the Worship Service that you feel your child (or you) needs a time out, please feel free to leave the service. If you leave the service, you can go to the lobby or use the large conference room across from the church office. The conference room has speakers and one-way glass so you can still participate in Worship. During the Sunday school hour, (9:15am 10:15am) and during the 10:30am worship service the nursery is staffed for children 0-3 years old. The nursery is in the preschool on the north end of the building. It is the first classroom on the left as you enter the preschool parent lounge area. There are also speakers in the nursery so you can listen to the service. Activity bags for young children to use are in the plastic tub outside the church office. FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE, WE OFFER THESE AND OTHER SERVICES: Large Print Editions of our bulletins are available from our ushers by request. If you need further information, ask any usher or church member. Also be sure to stop by the Information Desk in the lobby. Your needs are important to us! Bible Study for Adults on Sundays: we start at 9:15am in the fellowship hall. Coffee & Fellowship after the 8:00am service, come by the kitchen, have a cookie, coffee and time for fellowship. Come and meet old friends and make new friends! 15